Goose Cove 10/2

[RogerPollock]

We three souls did the Goose last night . . . first time there for me, always having loomed a fearsome, “dangerous” place for long boats. I’d been musing lately of going it alone in there, and probably will in the future, but it was nice to have some company on this first outing.

We estimated the narrow current to be running 5 plus knots, enough to stand on, but near impossible to make headway against. We practiced peel-outs, ferries, and surfing the constantly emerging and disappearing standing waves. Peter got to practice his roll, two or three times, all of which were successful.

Over the course of two hours, the blasting fire hose coming under the bridge subsided to a flat, swift, swirling maw, and each of us were able to creep out using the eddies under the bridge, which for me took a while to figure out, so much about current being counter-intuitive.

For those who haven’t been here, this a WONDERFUL place to get introduced to current, and to practice. Woods Hole, or a Welsh tidal race it ain’t, but it’s local.

[PeterB]

Great practice spot. If you’re wondering what the #*&@ you’ve been practicing those low brace turns for, go to Goose Cove , you will revel in an orgy of low brace turns.

Paddling back under the bridge against the current is an added thrill . We took turns guessing the current. My guess was 5- 5.5 knots, but it had slackened by the time I got through . (Rick got through first, Roger second, me last). Paddling against it is harder, I think, than just paddling the speed of the current: , because the water is a bit aerated, and is moving against you, each paddle stroke has less of a bite, kind of like walking up a down escalator that’s coated in Vaseline.